| abstract |
The production of S-100B in a subject is stimulated by administering an effective amount of an agonist acting on the 5HT1a receptor, the growth of central serotonergic neurons is stimulated by contacting the neurons with an effective amount of S-100B, and the growth of central serotonergic neurons is inhibited by contacting the neurons with an effective amount of an inhibitor of S-100B production or action. Furthermore, diseases associated with decreased central serotonergic innervation or activity including autism, depression, anxiety, biological rhythm-based sleep disorder, and cortical brain damage may be treated by such methods. Diseases associated with increased central serotonergic innervation but ineffective astroglial S-100B release, such as Down's Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease may be treated by up-regulating astroglial 5HT1a receptors, followed by stimulation of S-100B production or release using a 5HT1a receptor agonist. |